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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

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Lighting by Jamie Drake and AERIN. An exercise in fabulousness.

Annie Elliott | March 11, 2015

Designing light fixtures can’t be easy. If it were, wouldn’t everyone be doing it?

Scale alone is a tricky thing. Then you have to consider where it might go, create the design, choose finishes…then — goodness! — there’s wattage to think about, and probably something involving wiring…

It seems complicated.

Which is why we all should appreciate truly beautiful light fixtures. Such as those made for Boyd Lighting by my design hero (wait, I’m going to dignify that title with capital letters: my Design Hero) Jamie Drake.

Behold the Grasse Sconce:

Jamie Drake's Grasse Sconce
Grasse Sconce, designed by Jamie Drake for Boyd Lighting

Minimalist, gorgeous, and color-filled. Literally.

Then there’s the Topanga Sconce, which is like a light fixture in a tuxedo:

Jamie Drake's Topanga Sconce for Boyd Lighting
Jamie Drake’s Topanga Sconce
Jamie Drake's Topanga Sconce
Detail, Topanga Sconce

And the Chandelier:

Jamie Drake's Topanga Chandelier, by Jamie Drake
Topanga 8-Arm Chandelier

The Topanga series is so urban. It feels very New York to me, in a really genuine, straightforward way. There’s no way these fixtures could end up in a French Chateau, which is one of the many things I love about them. (Although if anyone could make “urban” and “French country” play nicely, it would be Jamie Drake. I just don’t know why he’d want to.)

Then we have lighting by AERIN. More varied, perhaps, but equally successful.

Bossy color just used the Cannes Table Lamp in a client’s foyer. We love the juxtaposition of organic and polished.

AERIN's Cannes Table Lamp
Cannes Table Lamp by AERIN

The Blue Wave finish on the Eliot Table Lamp is amazing. (If only she’d spelled Eliot properly, with 2 Ls and 2 Ts ;)  )

AERIN's Eliot Table Lamp
AERIN’s Eliot Table Lamp

I’m lusting after the Mill Small Ceiling Light for bossy color’s world headquarters. Mid-century meets disco ball meets 80s glam. How could you go wrong?

Gold finish round light pendant; a modern disco ball
Mill Small Ceiling Light by AERIN

Here’s the Large Mill Ceiling Light on Circa Lighting’s Blog (from Architectural Digest, clearly):

AERIN's Mill Ceiling Light
Mill Ceiling Light, by AERIN

Between Jamie Drake and AERIN, there’s simply no excuse for boring light fixtures anymore.

Bossy color | Annie Elliott interior design is an interior design firm based in Washington, D.C. We create outrageously beautiful homes for fascinating people — starting with color. 

Category: Color + paint color, LightingTag: AERIN, Boyd Lighting, ceiling light, chandelier, Circa Lighting, Jamie Drake, light fixture, lighting, pendant lighting, table lamp

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Today we’re talking about one of my favorite things in the whole world: grasscloth. (Which technically makes today *Wallcovering* Wednesday, but tomayto tomahto.) Most grasscloth is made of actual grasses that have been washed, dried, bleached or dyed, and glued to paper. Wallcovering made of sisal, seagrass, raffia, or hemp also is placed under the heading “grasscloth.” Talk about timeless style: while grasscloth had a popularity surge in the 1960s and 70s (thanks to a cultural obsession with living in nature), its first known use was in 107 AD, in China ;) Grasscloth has long been appreciated for its insulative properties and durability. From a decorating perspective, I love it because it adds warmth, texture, and dimension to any space. Picture a room painted white, and then imagine that room with an off-white grasscloth on the walls (and, if you’re me, the ceiling). The second room is still light and bright, but it’s cozier and more interesting.Grasscloth can be minimalist in neutral earth tones or maximalist, dyed bold colors, colorfully painted, or appliquéd with spangles, embroidery, or tape trim. It shows its seams when installed, but that’s part of the charm. I love grasscloth in hallways, living spaces, and bedrooms, but I avoid using it in kitchens and steamy bathrooms because I’m nervous about odor retention and excessive moisture.Enough school for the day, but if you remember nothing else: grasscloth enriches every room it graces. Highly recommend.📸 Michael K. Wilkinson@schumacher_midatlantic @schumacher1889 @phillipjeffriesltd

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This client’s gorgeous collection of gold icons in the bookcases puts this room in a league of its own. Whenever you have a collection — of ANYTHING: frog figurines, English engravings of flowers or dogs, snow globes — maximize its impact by bringing the objects together and placing them in a prominent place. These icons are breathtaking, and the sheer number invites you to go closer and study them. With reverence.#eastlake #vintagerug #antiquerug

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Sep 28

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Happy Fall! Ironic, isn’t it, that fall weather is cool, but the colors we associate with the season are warm? The earthy orange grasscloth in this foyer is undeniably “fall” to me. Add deep, warm versions of green and blue, et voilà: a cozy, inviting, autumnal space.

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Sep 23

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For this week’s Wallpaper Wednesday we go into the Woods… Woods is a great example of Cole & Son’s innovation in serigraphy, a traditional method of screen printing. The pattern is available on fabric and wallpaper in a variety of soothing yet elegant colorways. Due (I’m sure) to the booming success of the original, there are now some whimsical variations on Woods: Cole & Son added metallic stars to some colorways and pears to others. As you may imagine, however, this traditionalist prefers the original 🙂For some reason, Woods is especially popular for nurseries. Maybe those babies really wanted out of their cribs. 👶🏼In 2005, Woods deservedly won the ELLE Decoration International Design Award for Wallcovering of the Year. And it’s still going strong.

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Best part of being an interior designer is using your own home as a playground for creative ideas! We changed the paint in our living room again and here’s how it looks now! #interiordesign

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When you become an empty nester, when is it ok to reclaim your adult child’s space? Check out my latest blog post for my recommendations on how to approach empty nesting!📸 @stacyzaringoldberg📸 @kipdawkinsphoto📸 Michael Wilkinson📸 @angieseckinger

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Pink, green, and a splash of dark orange come together to create this sunny, summery bedroom 🪷
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